First record of black feathering in a female Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus under natural conditions

Abstract

During the breeding season, male Red-backed Fairy-wrens Malurus melanocephalus can exhibit a spectrum of plumages from wholly black-and-red to entirely brown. By contrast, females generally appear completely brown, although observations of birds in the hand have revealed that some females also develop some red feathers. Here, we document, for the first time, observations of a female Red-backed Fairy-wren that has developed both black and red feathers under natural conditions. We explore possible explanations for this including whether changes to the individual's hormonal milieu could be responsible for the unusual plumage that we observed.